The underlying pathologic process in coronary heart disease is known as what?
1 Answer
Atherosclerosis
Explanation:
Atherosclerosis is the hardening of arteries along with the deposition and formation of plaques.
There is still a great deal that we don't know about the formation of such plaques, but is largely attributed to a poor-diet, genetic predisposition and high LDL (low-density lipoprotein) levels. Although recent research is beginning to focus on the role of sugar in the blood and the belief that it may actually cause more harm than other compounds; hardly surprising considering the amount of refined sugars in the Western diet.
Whatever the case, arteries are supposed to be elastic. That is, they need to expand and contract in response to the variation in blood pressure within the body.
When the smooth lining of arteries are continuously irritated by the compounds in the blood, they become inflammed. Over time, this causes narrowing and hardening of the arteries. These sites then provide a place in which deposits, or plaques, can form; narrowing the artery further.
As a result, the heart must work harder to pump blood to the tissues, and so the patient will exhibit high-blood pressure. This is especially concerning with respect to the arteries that supply the heart with oxygen and nutrients, the coronary arteries.
These narrow vessels are absolutely vital to the function of the heart, so when they become occluded, the heart muscle doesn't get what it needs. At this point, a person is said to have coronary heart disease.
These plaques can either completely occlude the artery, or they may form a site in which red-blood cells get trapped, causing them to clump together to form a blood clot; the increased blood pressure can cause a plaque or blood clot to move, which may result in a heart-attack or stroke.
Therefore, a healthy balanced diet and exercise are important in maintaining the integrity of these arteries.
